Benidorm Cocktail Hour (The Benidorm Series Book 3) - Jo Lyons

Benidorm Cocktail Hour is the third book in The Benidorm Series. Follow Connie and The Dollz as they ‘do’ Las Vegas.

Connie attempts to juggle her romantic break with an over-the-top stag do, an increasingly heavy workload, and a case of unrequited love. With Ged and Liam turning into major bridezillas, Connie struggles to keep up with their incessant demands for forced enjoyment and their obsessive hunt for A-List celebrities. When The Dollz ramp up their reckless behaviour, Connie finds herself on the receiving end of some disgruntled local mobsters and an accidental wedding that should never have taken place.

Amid the chaos, will her and Matteo’s love ever find a way? Only one thing is for sure - what happens in Vegas, MUST stay in Vegas…

 

What did I think?

I have absolutely loved all of the books in the Benidorm series but I think Benidrom Cocktail Hour has to be my favourite as it didn't just make me cry with laughter, I also cried happy tears.

I love Connie and The Dollz, as well as Ged and Liam, and their hilarious escapades, so I raced straight onto the virtual Las Vegas flight after finishing book 2, Bendorm again.  Connie was hoping for a romantic getaway with Matteo but her trip has snowballed into including Ged and Liam's pre-moon and a gig with The Dollz.  There's also an unwelcome face on the same flight...

Oh Connie, she does get herself into some scrapes but with friends like The Dollz there's always someone there who has her back.  The Dollz are proper Geordie lasses who drink until they throw up (or fall asleep) and then start again!  Las Vegas won't know what's hit them when these crazy ladies descend on the Strip.

Benidorm Cocktail Hour is one of the funniest yet heartwarming books I have ever read.  It really should have waterproof pages though; I almost spat my cuppa out laughing from the start and I struggled to hold in my happy tears towards the end - that's how much I love these characters!  Jo Lyons never fails to make me laugh and with lots of laughs and plenty of romance, Benidorm Cocktail Hour is the perfect romantic comedy.

Many thanks to the author for a gifted copy to read and review; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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Diva - Daisy Goodwin

In the glittering and ruthlessly competitive world of opera, Maria Callas is known simply as la divina: the divine one. With her glorious voice, instinctive flair for the dramatic and striking beauty, she's the toast of the grandest opera houses in the world. Yet her fame has been hard won: raised in Nazi-occupied Greece by a mother who mercilessly exploited her, Maria learned early in life how to protect herself.

When she meets the fabulously rich shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis, her isolation melts away. For the first time in her life, she believes she's found a man who sees the woman rather than the legendary soprano. Desperately in love, Onassis introduces her to a life of unbelievable luxury, mixing with celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

And then, suddenly, it's over. The international press announce that Onassis will marry the most famous woman in the world, former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, leaving Maria to pick up the pieces.

 

What did I think?

Diva by Daisy Goodwin is a fabulous reimagining of the life of Maria Callas, that is based on her true story.  I love books that send me off to Google to find out more information and Diva certainly did that.  I listened to Maria's singing and got goosebumps - she really did have the voice of an angel and is well-named 'la divina'.

I didn't know a lot about Maria Callas before picking up Diva, but I certainly know a lot more now.  I had no idea that she dated Aristotle Onassis before he dropped Maria like a stone to marry Jackie Kennedy.  I felt really sorry for her early years, living in the shadow of her older sister and not getting any affection from her mother, it perhaps explains why she left her husband to be with Onassis who showered her with gifts and attention.

It also made me really appreciate the life of an artist, especially one with a divine voice, as they don't know how long their voice will last after all the strain they put it through.  Maria's singing teacher used a great analogy: imagine your voice is a purse of golden coins but you don't know how many it holds so you need to spend them wisely before there are none left.

Daisy Goodwin really brings the 50s/60s eras to life as Maria rubs shoulders with stars and royalty.  Maria herself is drawn so beautifully that she virtually leaps out from the pages and her life resembles an opera with an abundance of drama, passion and tragedy.

Filled with glitz and glamour, Diva is a wonderful glimpse into the life of Maria Callas, the world's greatest diva.  It's an unforgettable story that is both inspirational and heartbreaking.

I received a gifted paperback for the Tandem Collective readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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Pop Idle: 30 years on the road as a professional singer - Dave Dawson

Like hordes of others, best-selling author Dave Dawson has spent decades crisscrossing the country as a solo full-time professional musician. During his 30 years on the road, he has performed thousands of shows before tens of thousands of people, yet still remains one of the army of anonymous entertainers who literally sing for their supper, as part of the Never Ending UK Tour. From pubs to clubs, dives to luxury hotels, theatres to gardens, and hen nights to care homes, there’s hardly a live environment that he hasn’t encountered, enjoyed or endured.

Along the way, he’s had brushes with fame and fandom, strippers and stalkers, crooks and colourful characters, pissed-up punters and prima donnas… and has banked a wealth of experience at the brunt of the live music circuit.

In this, his fifth book, Dave takes the reader with him as he encounters the Great British Public head on with only a microphone stand and an ad-lib to hide behind. Alongside light-hearted and cautionary tales, Pop Idle provides an invaluable insight into the pleasures and perils that await anyone dedicated or mad enough to want to forge a path into the music industry at the bottom rung of the showbiz ladder

Dave Dawson, under the pseudonym Dave Philpott, is the co-author of the cult comedy bestsellers, Dear Mr. Kershaw, Dear Mr Pop Star, Grammar Free In The UK and Dear Catherine Wheel.

 

What did I think?

What an eye-opener!  When I've enjoyed listening to singers in a pub or club, I've never really thought about what goes on behind the scenes although I could imagine some of it, especially the difficulty getting paid part.  Dave Dawson's Pop Idle is a no holds barred 30 years in the life of a singer and it's as interesting as it is entertaining.

Dave Dawson would be the answer if I was ever asked the question: "If you could have a pint with anyone past or present, who would you choose?"  I could listen to his stories for hours if they're anything like the anecdotes in this fabulous book.

Behind the glitz and glamour there is blood, sweat and tears.  This book made me laugh so often but it also made me think about how hard it actually is to make it in the music business.  Cash is indeed king and it's no secret that artists get ripped off by agents and record labels, but it's even harder to get hard-earned money out of a pub or club.

Written with honesty and humour, Pop Idle is the most entertaining and hilarious non-fiction book I have read this year.  A highly recommended read.

I received a digital ARC from the author and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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